The pursuit of another gold medal while representing her country is enough to get Crystal Dangerfield fired up for the upcoming FIBA U19 World Cup. However, the event which begins Saturday in Italy, also provides the rising sophomore a bit of a dress rehearsal of some of the things she may be asked to do in her second season at UConn.

With a season under her belt, Dangerfield is drawing positive reviews for the confidence she displayed during pickup games with her teammates, giving every indication that lessons were learned during her inconsistent freshman season.

Dangerfield’s leadership role with the Huskies is still to be determined, but there is no question that she will be asked to point the way for the U19 team as the U.S. goes after its seventh straight gold medal.

Dangerfield is the only member of the squad who played on the gold-medal winning U19 squad in 2015. She is trying to join former UConn stars Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck, current South Carolina star A’ja Wilson and Minnesota Lynx rookie guard Alexis Jones as the only U.S. players to be members of two U19 world championship teams.

“I think they know it is going to be a competitive tournament so they are ready to go,” said Dangerfield, who was second on the 2015 squad with 19 assists and 14 steals in seven games. “Knowing that I have been through this once, I think some of them look at me that way so I just want to be able to make sure that I do what I can do so I can be a leader.

“Just being able to work on different things in competition in the summer and not just hanging around and being able to travel is cool.”

Dangerfield has dealt with a range of emotions during her time with USA Basketball. Two years ago she opened a few eyes even though she was the youngest member of the team. She was also the youngest player on the gold-medal winning U.S. team at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship for Women. Last summer she was selected to play on the U18 team, but a hip injury forced her to miss the FIBA Americas U18 World Championship for Women event.

“Missing the tournament last year was frustrating because I was on crutches, but it’s been a whole year,” Dangerfield said. “This summer hasn’t been as much of a struggle and a shock as it was last year. I think I have been able to talk more, stay up in the conditioning, in the weight room there has been a big change in the weight room, I think my body has matured a bit more.”

Dangerfield’s size and speed is reminiscent of former UConn star Moriah Jefferson, so it is understandable that the 5-foot-5 Dangerfield is often compared to Jefferson despite having a much different style of play. Jefferson, who made the jump from inconsistent freshman to dynamic sophomore while at UConn, offered Dangerfield some advice.

“You know Geno (Auriemma), you know (assistant coach) Shea (Ralph) is going to have you in the gym every day so just look at the things you didn’t do well in the previous season, whatever it is she knows she has to do, get better at that and make the jump,” Jefferson said.

Speed is a major part of Dangerfield’s skill set. With UConn likely to extend its defense with its deep roster, it’s quite possible the Huskies will play at an even faster pace than they did a season ago when only six or seven players were in the rotation.

With a highly touted freshman class featuring national high school player of the year Megan Walker, guard Mikayla Coombs and sweet-shooting wing players Andra Espinoza-Hunter and Lexi Gordon as well as post players Batouly Camara and Azura’ Stevens being eligible, it’s quite possible the Huskies will press and trap more than they have in recent seasons. That would be just fine with Dangerfield.

“I think the team that we have here this year, I feel like we can really run teams,” Dangerfield said. “We can have a whole five to come in (off the bench) if necessary so I think working hard during these summer sessions is helpful. Sometimes we don’t like it but we need it.

“I think that what we have been trying to do in pickup, get a rebound, get an outlet and go, try to score as quick as possible, as few passes as possible.”

Walker will be a teammate Dangerfield’s on the U19 team as will top Class of 2018 recruiting target Christyn Williams.